FR Doc 03-21340
[Federal Register: August 20, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 161)]
[Notices]
[Page 50187-50189]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20au03-86]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion: The University of Montana,
Missoula, MT
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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Notice is here given in accordance with the Native American Graves
Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3003, of the
completion of an inventory of human remains and associated funerary
objects in the possession of The University of Montana, Missoula, MT.
The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from
various locations in western Montana.
This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003 (d)(3).
The determinations within this notice are the sole responsibility of
the museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the
Native American human remains and associated funerary objects. The
National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations within
this notice.
A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by The
University of Montana professional staff in consultation with the
Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation,
Montana.
Prior to 1991, human remains (UMFC01) representing a minimum of two
individuals were removed from an unknown location in Montana west of
the Continental Divide. Some of the human remains are stained with a
red substance likely to be ocher, which is consistent with a
prehistoric Native American secondary burial practice. No known
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are
present.
Prior to 1991, human remains (UMFC10) representing a minimum of one
individual were removed from an unknown location in Montana west of the
Continental Divide. The human remains are weathered to an extent
consistent with an age of several hundred years, and the human remains
therefore probably are associated with the prehistoric Native American
inhabitants of Montana. No known individual was identified. No
associated funerary objects are present.
Prior to 1991, human remains (UMFC11) representing a minimum of one
individual were removed from an unknown location in Montana west of the
Continental Divide. Some of the human remains are stained with a red
substance likely to be ocher, which is consistent with a prehistoric
Native American secondary burial practice. No known individual was
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
Prior to 1991, human remains (UMFC15) representing a minimum of one
individual were removed from an unknown location in Montana west of the
Continental Divide. Some of the
[[Page 50188]]
human remains are stained with a red substance likely to be ocher,
which is consistent with a prehistoric Native American secondary burial
practice. Although the skull is too fragmentary to evaluate ancestry
with certainty, characteristics of the skull and geographic location
indicate that the individual was probably Native American. No known
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
Prior to 1991, human remains (UMFC17) representing a minimum of one
individual were removed from an unknown location in Montana west of the
Continental Divide. Some of the human remains are stained with a red
substance likely to be ocher, which is consistent with a prehistoric
Native American secondary burial practice. Although the skull is too
fragmentary to evaluate ancestry with certainty, characteristics of the
skull and geographic location indicate that the individual was probably
Native American. No known individual was identified. No associated
funerary objects are present.
In 1938, human remains (UMFC20) representing a minimum of one
individual were removed from an unknown location in Mineral County, MT.
Physical characteristics of the human remains, the types of associated
funerary objects, and geographic location indicate that the individual
was probably Native American from late prehistoric or historic times.
No known individual was identified. The 71 associated funerary objects
are 39 shell beads, 30 glass beads, and 2 chipped stone artifacts.
Prior to 1991, human remains (UMFC21) representing a minimum of two
individuals were removed from an unknown location in Montana west of
the Continental Divide. Physical characteristics of one set of human
remains and geographic location indicate that the individuals were
probably Native American. No known individuals were identified. No
associated funerary objects are present.
Prior to 1991, human remains (UMFC24) representing a minimum of one
individual were removed from an unknown location in Sanders County, MT.
The character of the dental wear is similar to that on prehistoric
individuals from the region and therefore the individual is most likely
Native American. No known individual was identified. No associated
funerary objects are present.
Prior to 1991, human remains (UMFC25) representing a minimum of one
individual were removed from an unknown location in Montana west of the
Continental Divide. The individual is immature, but the observable
characteristics on the human remains and geographic location indicate
that the individual was probably Native American. No known individual
was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
Prior to 1991, human remains (UMFC34) representing a minimum of one
individual were removed from an unknown location in Montana west of the
Continental Divide. The individual exhibits a mixture of ``Mongoloid''
and ``Caucasoid'' characteristics, but the types of associated funerary
objects make it reasonably certain that the human remains are Native
American. No known individual was identified. The 80 associated
funerary objects are 66 shell beads and 14 elk teeth.
Prior to 1991, human remains (UMFC41) representing a minimum of two
individuals were removed from an unknown location in Montana west of
the Continental Divide. Although the human remains are too fragmentary
to evaluate ancestry with certainty, some characteristics are present
that are typical of Native Americans. Moreover, the degree of
weathering of the human remains is consistent with a prehistoric age,
and the human remains are therefore considered to be Native American.
No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects
are present.
In 1978, human remains (UMFC48) representing a minimum of one
individual were removed from the prehistoric archeological site 24SA118
in Sanders County, MT. Metric analysis of the human remains indicates
that the individual is of Native American ancestry. No known individual
was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
Prior to 1991, human remains (UMFC53) representing a minimum of one
individual were removed from an unknown location in Montana west of the
Continental Divide. The type of the associated funerary objects and
degree of weathering of the human remains makes the attribution of the
human remains as Native American from late prehistoric or historic
times reasonably certain. No known individual was identified. The 17
associated funerary objects are glass beads.
Prior to 1991, human remains (UMFC67) representing a minimum of one
individual were removed from an unknown location in Montana west of the
Continental Divide. Some of the human remains are stained with a red
substance likely to be ocher, which is consistent with a prehistoric
Native American secondary burial practice. No known individual was
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
Prior to 1991, human remains (UMFC72) representing a minimum of one
individual were removed from an unknown location in Montana west of the
Continental Divide. Metric analysis and geographic location indicate
that the individual was probably Native American. No known individual
was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
Prior to 1991, human remains (24MO1017) representing a minimum of
one individual were removed from prehistoric archeological site
24MO1017 in Missoula County, MT. Metric analysis and geographic
location indicate that the individual was probably Native American. No
known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are
present.
Prior to 1991, human remains (24PW1065) representing a minimum of
one individual were removed from prehistoric archeological site
24PW1065 in Powell County, MT. Metric analysis and geographic location
indicate that the individual was probably Native American. No known
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
At various unknown times before 1991, local law enforcement
officials from the counties from which the human remains described
above were removed presented the human remains to the Montana State
Medical Examiner and The University of Montana, Department of
Anthropology physical anthropologists for analysis. Local Sheriffs/
Coroners had custody of the human remains and associated funerary
objects until May 2002. At that time, The University of Montana sought
and received custody of the human remains and associated funerary
objects from the law enforcement officials for the purpose of returning
them to Native American tribes pursuant to applicable State and Federal
laws.
In 1999, human remains representing a minimum of one individual
were left at The University of Montana by an unknown individual who did
not disclose the location or date of discovery of the human remains
other than the fact that they came from the Seeley Lake area of
Missoula County, MT. Metric analysis and geographic location indicate
that the individual was probably Native American. No known individual
was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
The region from which all of the human remains described above
originated was inhabited during prehistoric and historic times by the
ancestors of the present-day
[[Page 50189]]
Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation,
Montana. On the basis of oral traditions; geographic, kinship,
archeological, anthropological, and historical data; and study of the
human remains and associated funerary objects, The University of
Montana has determined that the human remains and associated funerary
objects are culturally affiliated with members of the Confederated
Salish & Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation, Montana.
Officials of The University of Montana have determined that,
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described above
represent the physical remains of 21 individuals of Native American
ancestry. Officials of The University of Montana also have determined
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the 168 objects described
above are reasonably believed to have been placed with or near
individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of the
death rite or ceremony. Lastly, officials of The University of Montana
have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), there is a
relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced
between the human remains and the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes
of the Flathead Reservation, Montana.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Thomas
A. Foor, Professor, Department of Anthropology, The University of
Montana, Missoula, MT 59806, telephone (406) 243-2971, before September
19, 2003. Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary
objects to the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead
Reservation, Montana may proceed after that date if no additional
claimants come forward.
The University of Montana is responsible for notifying the
Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation,
Montana that this notice has been published.
Dated: July 9, 2003.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources.
[FR Doc. 03-21340 Filed 8-19-03; 8:45 am]
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